StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Pay It Forward - Assignment Example

Cite this document
Summary
number Instructor Date Analysis of the film “Pay it forward” by Leslie Dixon Summary In the film, the main points are highlighted as performing good deeds to others. The author attempts to show that with a will everybody can come up with an idea that would make the world a better place…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.4% of users find it useful
Pay It Forward
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Pay It Forward"

number Analysis of the film “Pay it forward” by Leslie Dixon Summary In the film, the main points are highlighted as performing good deeds to others. The author attempts to show that with a will everybody can come up with an idea that would make the world a better place. The pay it forward developed by Trevor during his sociology class proves this point. This is despite the numerous challenges experienced in the course of its implementation. In a persuasive way, it urges individuals to do good since in a short time, it extends to an immense number of people.

These include the initial stages of his attempt to bring Eugene and Arlene together. However, the characters who attempt to follow the chain in this plan overcome the major challenges and are hence able to accomplish its intended purpose. The other main point is about acceptance where the film emphasizes the need to look beyond other peoples physical defects. It is illustrated when Arlene accepts Eugene emotionally despite his possession of physical burn scars. As such, it offers an encouragement to people who are worried not to give up but instead be of good influence to others and the entire world with their life.

With this, those who receive good deeds as beneficiaries are asked to extend it to others as opposed to the person who offered it. In conclusion, the main point is to make people understand that they can become good sociologist by struggling to attain happiness for other people in the world. It revolves around not being afraid to extend help to other people who lack the ability to perform it on their own. Thus, it emphasizes on the provision of the same or higher measure of the good act (Osment, Hunt and Spacey).

Application The themes in the film tend to contradict those in general sociological communications. This is in relation to the message and feedback mechanisms. Instead of this trend it follows an extension format where a message or beneficial act is offered to three other people (Osment, Hunt and Spacey). In relation to the theme of sociological imagination, the main themes of the film can be applied to reveal the great extent of satisfaction an individual gets by performing good deeds to three more people as opposed to the single person who has performed an act of good deed.

As such, through a single and simple deed an individual can change the world. With this, the first action results in the link created between the experience and the entire society. These involve self sacrifice where an individual like Trevor makes all efforts to do good to others despite the danger presented to him. The main topics covered in Chapter 17 relate to the “Pay it Forward” in the sense that they enhance the expression of good deeds to as many people as possible. It shows how contagious performing good acts of kindness to others are.

From the film, greater satisfaction is achieved regardless of the outcome of the good deed. As is the case of Trevor, he dies while attempting to protect a fellow child. However, the deed does not stop at that point since the beneficiary extends it to three other people (Osment, Hunt and Spacey). From there, it extends to a larger number of people. With this, the tiny deed becomes like a tree that produces numerous seeds and fruits. It thus reveals activities that are contrary to the normal daily activities.

It is in the sense that people tend to reward those who offer them good and beneficial acts. In the film, however, an act of good deeds is expected to be extended to three others as opposed to the giver. As such, they should not expect anything out of their good deeds but should let them be expressed to others instead. With this, the connection between a small deed and a great impact is revealed (Osment, Hunt and Spacey). According to the view of the functionalists, the concept in the “Pay it forward” film is a relevant example of how social order can be maintained, in addition to the maintenance of stability in the social sectors.

It brings about an organized social system. In relation to this view, more people who are beneficiaries of good acts will strive to do well to others. Because of this, social stability will be attained by the reduced cases of deviant behavior. Therefore, its impact in the society is considered to be extremely significant towards its stability. It is because it resonates with the idea that every member of the society plays an essential role in contributing to its overall stability (Osment, Hunt and Spacey).

It is in the sense that the individual elements of society, which depend on each other, are organized and brought together. This is because of the idea contained it in regarding doing good to others while expecting nothing in return. Additionally, the single act of goodness to one individual leads to more beneficial acts to a population summing up to the entire world in a short time. With this, the single act is considered a good deed to the entire world since it makes it a better place for all.

Works Cited Pay it forward-we can change the world. Dir. Mimi Leder. Perf. J. Haley Osment, Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey. 2000.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Pay It Forward Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/sociology/1476574-pay-it-forward
(Pay It Forward Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/sociology/1476574-pay-it-forward.
“Pay It Forward Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1476574-pay-it-forward.
  • Cited: 1 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward (2000)

Chris is also re-introduced and the movie becomes a little complicate at this point as the Pay It Forward movement starts.... The stranger's replies by saying, that he is simply "paying it forward".... A 12-year-old schoolboy based out of Las Vegas,Nevadaby the name, Trevor McKinney is given a projectto complete by histeacher who teaches him social studies....
3 Pages (750 words) Movie Review

Looking at the Future Ahead

To say thank you to them, I can only Pay It Forward.... And s\he was looking forward in anticipation of what lies ahead, so too does he look back in gratitude.... From the paper "Looking at the Future Ahead" it is clear that the author believes that true success is not just about looking at the future ahead, it is also about looking back....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Discussing the key points of the movie

Trevor, the main character… However, his optimism for the idea of someone starting the act of kindness, of someone else taking up the cause, and then passing it on to someone else, and so on and so forth, engendered Pay It Forward The main points of this movie reside in its alone – paying it forward.... It was important to note before tackling the concept of paying it forward how giving or sharing to other people has become practically an unknown and unimaginable concept....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Issue analysis

It is one way to Pay It Forward, which Erik Erikson postulated as the seventh crisis stage in a persons life, which is generativity (concern for future generations) versus self-absorption.... This paper examines two opposing views on the state of feminism today with regards to how some women opt out of their careers and go back to being housewives or stay-at-home moms....
2 Pages (500 words) Research Paper

About physical therapy

I was still an innocent teenager back then who had just started out my freshman year.... I went to the clinic with my father because we were picking up my cousin for a family… The first thing that struck me when I entered the clinic were all the patients sitting in the waiting area, reading magazines while sitting next to crutches, canes, and other walking assistant implements....
4 Pages (1000 words) Personal Statement

The Act of Altruism

In other words, we “Pay It Forward”.... Altruism improving human condition Altruism act promotes pay forward syndrome, whereby those who have been assisted are inspired to help others (Berkowitz & Daniels, 1964).... In this paper “The Act of Altruism” the author shall discuss the act of altruism....
2 Pages (500 words) Research Paper

Americorps National Civilian Community Corps

I always did my part to Pay It Forward because repaying the debt of gratitude I have to complete strangers and our government is something that I feel I have to do.... nbsp; As I child, I tried to pay back to the community and the government that nurtured my family by joining and being an active member of the Girl Scouts....
1 Pages (250 words) Admission/Application Essay

Film Music - Requiem for a Dream

This paper "Film Music - Requiem for a Dream" focuses on the film, Requiem for a Dream, which was produced by Eric Watson and Palmer West and directed by Darren Aronofsky as a depiction of Hubert Selby's novel Requiem for a Dream.... The 101-minute movie released in 2000 features, prominent actors....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us